Twenty-six acres of land in Greenville, N.Y., will forever be a protected wildlife habitat now that the parcel has been donated to The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust. The new Ponderosa Wildlife Sanctuary, once a beloved retreat for a family from Upstate New York, is primarily forested and includes a significant wetland area and a pond. It is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, fox, coyote, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, and diverse migratory birds and abundant waterfowl.

The family, who would like to remain anonymous, made the donation in honor of their late father who bought the land in the 1960s so he could share wilderness experiences with his wife and children. The family spent many weekends at the property and enjoyed camping, tapping maple trees for syrup, observing wildlife and exploring the woods.

“We are pleased to work with this family to protect their father’s land for wildlife,” says Robert Koons, executive director of the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust. “We are grateful for their vision and commitment to habitat protection, and we are thrilled to add this safe haven to our network of more than 100 permanent wildlife sanctuaries in North America.”